Our Evolving Understanding of the Solar System: New Data, New Ideas
Solar System Explorers

Hal Levinson
Dr. Levinson creates simulations on the formation and evolution of the solar system, and studies Kuiper Belt objects; he is one of the scientists who helped to formulate the Nice Model of planetary migration. He says that when they realized that this model actually worked it was a really exciting moment. It was an idea that no one had really thought of before and it changed the whole community's perspective on how the planets formed and how they moved in these violent events.

Mike Brown
Dr. Brown, a planetary astronomer, discovered an object that was thought to be 27% bigger than Pluto, which precipitated the need for a definition of a "planet" by the International Astronomical Union. Dr. Brown argued against Pluto and other objects he had discovered being planets on the basis that they are in the middle of a "swarm" of similar objects.

David Morrison
Dr. Morrison, an astrobiologist, has dedicated himself to sharing the excitement of planetary exploration. He stated that astrobiology has made tremendous advances since its beginning, and it is especially gratifying to see the number of young scientists who want to make a career in astrobiology.